A Most Rare And Highly Desirable Prussian M1860-98 Bayonet, Originally Made For the Dreyse Needle Fire Rifle, Used in the Franco Prussian War Service. Then Upgraded By The Prussian Ordnance For The Mauser 98 in WW1

This rare recognised service pattern issued bayonet is an absolute corker!

In fabulous condition, regimentally marked and German inspection proofed throughout its service life, from 1860 up to 1918. a rare beauty made even rarer still due to its condition.

The Prussian M1860-98 designation refers to the extended service use life of the Model 1860 Fusilier Sword Bayonet, which was originally issued for the Dreyse needle-fire rifle, and later updated through successive rifle eras up to 1898 and World War I.
Initial Adoption and authorized on August 4, 1860, the M1860 sword bayonet was custom-built for the new Dreyse Zündnadel-Füsiliergewehr (Model 1860 Fusilier Needle-Fire Rifle).

It originally featured a distinctive cast-brass hilt with a T-shaped slot, a leaf-spring locking button, a steel crossguard with an "S"-shaped quillon, and a 21mm muzzle ring.

It uses a powerful and robust, roughly 500mm "quill-back" or pipe-backed blade designed to double as both a sidearm and a heavy cutting tool for light elite infantry.
Conversions and the Model 1898 Transition
Mauser 1871 Adaptations: Following the introduction of the single-shot Mauser Model 1871 rifle, surplus M1860 fusilier blades and modified variants were reissued, often resized or repurposed for foot artillery units (Artillerie-Seitengewehr) by altering muzzle ring dimensions.

The 1898 upgrades as the German military transitioned to the bolt-action Gewehr 98 (Model 1898) rifle, older high-quality blades like the M1860 and M1871 were recycled.

By 1913 (culminating in configurations like the 71/98 and related patterns), armourers mated these trusted, long fusilier blades onto modern {at the time} 98-style handles and pommels.

These hybrids allowed artillery, and reserve troops (Landwehr/Landsturm) to maintain effective sidearms well into the First World War.

The blade is near mint, the scabbard also near mint, the hilt is excellent, with the ventilation oiling holes, at the bottom of each wooden grip side, now no longer rounded due to aging.

Code: 26336